Housing of an electronic device with a window and a window panel for closing the window

ABSTRACT

A housing of an electronic device includes a housing wall that confines an inner space therein and that is formed with a window for access into the inner space, a rail unit formed on the housing wall and disposed adjacent to the window, and a window panel mounted movably on the rail unit and movable between a closed position, in which the window is covered by the window panel, and an open position, in which at least a portion of the window is exposed from the window panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 092104570, filed on Mar. 4, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a housing of an electronic device, more particularly to a housing of an electronic device with a window and a window panel mounted movably on the housing for closing the window.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Desktop personal computers normally include a housing defining an inner space for accommodating electronic components, such as a mother board, a hard disc drive, a CD-ROM drive, and a power unit, therein. The housing includes housing walls that are assembled together through screw means. To gain access into the inner space in the housing, the screw means are required to be removed from the housing, which is relatively inconvenient and laborious.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a housing of an electronic device that is capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.

[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a housing for an electronic device. The housing comprises: a housing wall that confines an inner space therein and that is formed with a window for access into the inner space; a rail unit formed on the housing wall and disposed adjacent to the window; and a window panel mounted movably on the rail unit and movable between a closed position, in which the window is covered by the window panel, and an open position, in which at least a portion of the window is exposed from the window panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention,

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a housing of an electronic device according to this invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the housing of FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the housing of FIG. 1 to illustrate how a window panel is mounted slidably on the housing;

[0012] FIGS. 4 to 6 are enlarged fragmentary views of the housing of FIG. 1 to illustrate consecutive steps of movement of the window panel from an open position to a closed position;

[0013] FIGS. 7 to 9 are fragmentary sectional views of the housing of FIG. 1 that respectively correspond to FIGS. 4 to 6; and

[0014]FIG. 10 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 1 viewed from an inner side of the housing to illustrate how the window panel is retained at the closed position through an urging member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate the preferred embodiment of a housing 2 for accommodating electronic components (not shown) of an electronic device, such as a desktop personal computer, according to this invention.

[0016] The housing 2 includes: a housing wall 21 that confines an inner space therein and that is formed with a window 211 for access into the inner space; a rail unit 3′ formed on the housing wall 21 and disposed adjacent to the window 211; and a window panel 23 mounted movably on the rail unit 3′ and movable between a closed position (see FIG. 6, 9, and 10), in which the window 211 is covered by the window panel 23, and an open position (see FIGS. 4 and 7), in which at least a portion of the window 211 is exposed from the window panel 23. The window panel 23 is preferably transparent.

[0017] The rail unit 3′ includes a pair of opposite first rails 3, each of which defines a first guiding groove 30 that is disposed adjacent to a respective one of two opposite sides 2111 of the window 211. The window panel 23 has two opposite sides 230, each of which has opposite top and bottom ends 2301. The window panel 23 is formed with a pair of first studs 241 that respectively project from the top ends 2301 of the opposite sides 230 of the window panel 23 into the first guiding grooves 30 in the first rails 3.

[0018] The rail unit 3′ further includes a pair of opposite second rails 4, each of which defines a second guiding groove 40 and each of which is disposed below and is aligned with a respective one of the first rails 3. The window panel 23 is further formed with a pair of second studs 242 that respectively project from the bottom ends 2301 of the opposite sides 230 of the window panel 23 into the second guiding grooves 40 in the second rails 4.

[0019] Each of the first rails 3 includes a pair of parallel first inner and outer ribs 31, 32 that cooperatively define the first guiding groove 30 therebetween. The first inner rib 31 has opposite top and bottom ends 311, 312 (see FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 7 to 9) and a side face 313 that extends from the bottom end 312 of the first inner rib 31 to the top end 311 of the first inner rib 31, and that confines one side of the first guiding groove 30. The first inner rib 31 further has a top end face 314 that extends transversely from the side face 313 of the first inner rib 31. Each of the first studs 241 is in sliding contact with the side face 313 of the first inner rib 31 of the respective one of the first rails 3 when the window panel 23 is disposed between the closed and open positions, and is seated on the top end face 314 of the first inner rib 31 of the respective one of the first rails 3 (see FIG. 9) when the window panel 23 is moved to the closed position.

[0020] Each of the second rails 4 includes a pair of parallel second inner and outer ribs 41, 42 that cooperatively define the second guiding groove 40 therebetween. The second inner rib 41 has opposite top and bottom ends 411, 412 and a side face 413 that extends from the bottom end 412 of the second inner rib 41 to the top end 411 of the second inner rib 41, and that confines one side of the second guiding groove 40. The second inner rib 41 further has a top end face 414 that extends transversely from the side face 413 of the second inner rib 41. Each of the second studs 242 is in sliding contact with the side face 414 of the second inner rib 41 of the respective one of the second rails 41 when the window panel 23 is disposed between the closed and open positions, and is seated on the top end face 414 of the second inner rib 41 of the respective one of the second rails 4 (see FIG. 9) when the window panel 23 is moved to the closed position The window panel 23 is formed with a protrusion 27 that projects transversely therefrom and that defines an inclined face 271 inclined relative to the window panel 23 and having an inner end 2711 and an outer end 2712 which is opposite to the inner end 2711 and which is distal from the window panel 23. An urging member 26 is mounted on the housing wall 21, and has a spring arm 260 with a free end 2601 that is in sliding contact with and that abuts against the inner end 2711 of the inclined face 271 of the protrusion 27 when the window panel 23 is moved from the open position to a position adjacent to the closed position, and that is in sliding contact with and that abuts against the outer end 2712 of the inclined face 271 of the protrusion 27 when the window panel 23 is moved further to the closed position. The spring arm 260 of the urging member 26 is moved in a direction away from the window panel 23 when slid from the inner end 2711 to the outer end 2712 of the inclined face 271 of the protrusion 27 upon movement of the window panel 23 from the open position to the closed position (see FIG. 3 and FIGS. 7 to 9), thereby providing an urging force against the window panel 23 to retain relesably the window panel 23 at the closed position. To open the window 211, the window panel 23 is pushed inwardly of the housing 2 so as to move the first and second studs 241, 242 away from the top end faces 314 of the inner ribs 31 of the first rails 3 and the top end faces 414 of the inner ribs 41 of the second rails 4 and so as to permit downward movement of the window panel 23 to the open position by virtue of the weight of the window panel 23. A weight (not shown) may be provided on the window panel 23 to facilitate downward movement of the window panel 23. An operating lever 231 is formed on the window panel 23 for facilitating opening and closing operations of the window 211.

[0021] The side face 313 of the first inner rib 31 of each of the first rails 3 has an inclined segment 3131 that extends inclinedly from the top end face 314 of the first inner rib 31 for facilitating movement of the respective first stud 241 between the top end face 314 of the first inner rib 31 and the aide face 313 of the first inner rib 31. The side face 413 of the second inner rib 41 of each of the second rails 4 has an inclined segment 4131 that extends inclinedly from the top end face 414 of the second inner rib 41 for facilitating movement of the respective second stud 242 between the top end face 414 of the second inner rib 41 and the side face 413 of the second inner rib 41.

[0022] A friction providing unit 25 includes a first friction member 251 that is mounted on the housing wall 21, and a second friction member 252 that is mounted on the window panel 23 and that engages frictionally and movably the first friction member 251 so as to provide a frictional force between the window panel 23 and the housing wall 21 upon movement of the window panel 23 between the closed and open positions and so as to prevent free fall of the window panel 23 during downward movement of the window panel 23 from the closed position to the open position.

[0023] In this embodiment, the first friction member 251 includes a pair of pinions 251′ that are mounted on the housing wall 21 and that are respectively disposed adjacent to the opposite sides 2111 of the window 211. The second friction member 252 includes a pair of racks 252′ that are respectively mounted on the opposite sides 230 of the window panel 23, and that engage respectively the pinions 251′.

[0024] FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate consecutive steps of movement of the window panel 23 from the open position to the closed position. FIGS. 7 to 9 are sectional views that correspond to FIGS. 4 to 6, respectively.

[0025] Since the inner space of the housing 2 can be accessed through the window 211, which can be easily opened by pushing the window panel 23 inwardly of the housing 2 to permit downward movement of the window panel 23 by virtue of the weight of the window panel 23, the aforesaid drawback as encountered in the prior art can be eliminated accordingly.

[0026] With the invention thus explained, it is apparent that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A housing for an electronic device, comprising: a housing wall that confines an inner space therein and that is formed with a window for access into said inner space; a rail unit formed on said housing wall and disposed adjacent to said window; and a window panel mounted movably on said rail unit and movable between a closed position, in which said window is covered by said window panel, and an open position, in which at least a portion of said window is exposed from said window panel.
 2. The housing of claim 1, wherein said window has two opposite sides, said rail unit including a pair of opposite first rails, each of which defines a first guiding groove that is disposed adjacent to a respective one of said opposite sides of said window, said window panel having two opposite sides, each of which has opposite top and bottom ends, said window panel being formed with a pair of first studs that respectively project from said top ends of said opposite sides of said window panel into said first guiding grooves in said first rails.
 3. The housing of claim 2, wherein said rail unit further includes a pair of opposite second rails, each of which defines a second guiding groove and each of which is disposed below and is aligned with a respective one of said first rails, said window panel being further formed with a pair of second studs that respectively project from said bottom ends of said opposite sides of said window panel into said second guiding grooves in said second rails.
 4. The housing of claim 3, wherein each of said first rails includes a pair of parallel first inner and outer ribs that cooperatively define said first guiding groove therebetween, said first inner rib having opposite top and bottom ends and a side face that extends from said bottom end of said first inner rib to said top end of said first inner rib, and that confines one side of said first guiding groove, said first inner rib further having a top end face that extends transversely from said side face of said first inner rib, each of said first studs being in sliding contact with said side face of said first inner rib of the respective one of said first rails when said window panel is disposed between said closed and open positions, and being seated on said top end face of said first inner rib of the respective one of said first rails when said window panel is moved to said closed position.
 5. The housing of claim 4, wherein each of said second rails includes a pair of parallel second inner and outer ribs that cooperatively define said second guiding groove therebetween, said second inner rib having opposite top and bottom ends and a side face that extends from said bottom end of said second inner rib to said top end of said second inner rib, and that confines one side of said second guiding groove, said second inner rib further having a top end face that extends transversely from said side face of said second inner rib, each of said second studs being in sliding contact with said side face of said second inner rib of the respective one of said second rails when said window panel is disposed between said closed and open positions, and being seated on said top end face of said second inner rib of the respective one of said second rails when said window panel is moved to said closed position.
 6. The housing of claim 5, further comprising an urging member that is mounted on said housing wall and that abuts against said window panel when said window panel is moved to said closed position.
 7. The housing of claim 6, wherein said window panel is formed with a protrusion that projects transversely therefrom and that defines an inclined face inclined relative to said window panel and having an inner end and an outer end which is opposite to said inner end and which is distal from said window panel, said urging member having a spring arm with a free end that is in sliding contact with and that abuts against said inner end of said inclined face of said protrusion when said window panel is moved from said open position to a position adjacent to said closed position, and that is in sliding contact with and that abuts against said outer end of said inclined face of said protrusion when said window panel is moved further to said closed position, said spring arm of said urging member being moved in a direction away from said window panel when slid from said inner end to said outer end of said inclined face of said protrusion upon movement of said window panel from said open position to said closed position, thereby providing an urging force against said window panel to retain relesably said window panel at said closed position.
 8. The housing of claim 4, wherein said side face of said first inner rib of each of said first rails has an inclined segment that extends inclinedly from said top end face of said first inner rib.
 9. The housing of claim 5, wherein said side face of said second inner rib of each of said second rails has an inclined segment that extends inclinedly from said top end face of said second inner rib.
 10. The housing of claim 1, further comprising a friction providing unit including a first friction member that is mounted on said housing wall, and a second friction member that is mounted on said window panel and that engages frictionally and movably said first friction member so as to provide a frictional force between said window panel and said housing wall upon movement of said window panel between said closed and open positions.
 11. The housing of claim 10, wherein said window panel has two opposite sides, said window having two opposite sides, said first friction member including a pair of pinions that are mounted on said housing wall and that are respectively disposed adjacent to said opposite sides of said window, said second friction member including a pair of racks that are respectively mounted on said opposite sides of said window panel, and that engage respectively said pinions.
 12. An electronic device, comprising: a housing adapted to receive electronic components therein and including a housing wall that confines an inner space therein and that is formed with a window for access into said inner space, a rail unit formed on said housing and disposed adjacent to said window, and a window panel mounted movably on said rail unit and movable between a closed position, in which said window is covered by said window panel, and an open position, in which at least a portion of said window is exposed from said window panel.
 13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein said window has two opposite sides, said rail unit including a pair of opposite first rails, each of which defines a first guiding groove that is disposed adjacent to a respective one of said opposite sides of said window, said window panel having two opposite sides, each of which has opposite top and bottom ends, said window panel being formed with a pair of first studs that respectively project from said top ends of said opposite sides of said window panel into said first guiding grooves in said first rails.
 14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein said rail unit further includes a pair of opposite second rails, each of which defines a second guiding groove and each of which is disposed below and is aligned with a respective one of said first rails, said window panel being further formed with a pair of second studs that respectively project from said bottom ends of said opposite sides of said window panel into said second guiding grooves in said second rails.
 15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein each of said first rails includes a pair of parallel first inner and outer ribs that cooperatively define said first guiding groove therebetween, said first inner rib having opposite top and bottom ends and a side face that extends from said bottom end of said first inner rib to said top end of said first inner rib, and that confines one side of said first guiding groove, said first inner rib further having a top end face that extends transversely from said side face of said first inner rib, each of said first studs being in sliding contact with said side face of said first inner rib of the respective one of said first rails when said window panel is disposed between said closed and open positions, and being seated on said top end face of said first inner rib of the respective one of said first rails when said window panel is moved to said closed position.
 16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein each of said second rails includes a pair of parallel second inner and outer ribs that cooperatively define said second guiding groove therebetween, said second inner rib having opposite top and bottom ends and a side face that extends from said bottom end of said second inner rib to said top end of said second inner rib, and that confines one side of said second guiding groove, said second inner rib further having a top end face that extends transversely from said side face of said second inner rib, each of said second studs being in sliding contact with said side face of said second inner rib of the respective one of said second rails when said window panel is disposed between said closed and open positions, and being seated on said top end face of said second inner rib of the respective one of said second rails when said window panel is moved to said closed position.
 17. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising an urging member that is mounted on said housing wall and that abuts against said window panel when said window panel is moved to said closed position.
 18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein said window panel is formed with a protrusion that projects transversely therefrom and that defines an inclined face inclined relative to said window panel and having an inner end and an outer end which is opposite to said inner end and which is distal from said window panel, said urging member having a spring arm with a free end that is in sliding contact with and that abuts against said inner end of said inclined face of said protrusion when said window panel is moved from said open position to a position adjacent to said closed position, and that is in sliding contact with and that abuts against said outer end of said inclined face of said protrusion when said window panel is moved further to said closed position, said spring arm of said urging member being moved in a direction away from said window panel when slid from said inner end to said outer end of said inclined face of said protrusion upon movement of said window panel from said open position to said closed position, thereby providing an urging force against said window panel to retain relesably said window panel at said closed position.
 19. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein said side face of said first inner rib of each of said first rails has an inclined segment that extends inclinedly from said top end face of said first inner rib.
 20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein said side face of said second inner rib of each of said second rails has an inclined segment that extends inclinedly from said top end face of said second inner rib.
 21. The electronic device of claim 12, further comprising a friction providing unit including a first friction member that is mounted on said housing wall, and a second friction member that is mounted on said window panel and that engages frictionally and movably said first friction member so as to provide a frictional force between said first and second friction members upon movement of said window panel between said closed and open positions.
 22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein said window panel has two opposite sides, said window having two opposite sides, said first friction member including a pair of pinions that are mounted on said housing wall and that are respectively disposed adjacent to said opposite sides of said window, said second friction member including a pair of racks that are respectively mounted on said opposite sides of said window panel, and that engage respectively said pinions. 